I wanted one child and I have one child. I feel very alone in this.

[Anonymous]

Mother of one and ok with that but it was not what I envisioned. I always pictured 3 or 4 kids but I got married in my late 30’s and pregnant at 39. We kind of tried for a second baby but I really wasn’t into it and we stopped. I think DH would have been thrilled with a second. I was the third of four so always thought in terms of a bigger family.

It bothered me for a bit but I realized, when he was 3, that only having one was great in many ways. We know we will be able to afford his activities, private school if needed, and college. We can go on some great vacations and do a lot that we would not have been able to with 2.

We would have been fine and happy with a second but one works for us.

But I do set up a lot of play dates. Lots of play dates.

[Anonymous]

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/07/best-way-reduce-your-carbon-footprint-one-government-isn-t-telling-you-about

Recycling and using public transit are all fine and good if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, but to truly make a difference you should have fewer children. That’s the conclusion of a new study in which researchers looked at 39 peer-reviewed papers, government reports, and web-based programs that assess how an individual’s lifestyle choices might shrink their personal share of emissions.

Many commonly promoted options, such as washing clothes in cold water or swapping incandescent bulbs for light-emitting diodes, have only a moderate impact (see chart, below), the team reports today in Environmental Research Letters. But four lifestyle choices had a major impact: Become a vegetarian, forego air travel, ditch your car, and—most significantly—have fewer children.

Check out the graph. You are great OP!

[Anonymous]

Chiming in to say we have a happy family of three by choice. I also feel isolated about that decision sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chiming in to say we have a happy family of three by choice. I also feel isolated about that decision sometimes.

We know TONS of families of three! My DD's preschool class is 10 kids - at least half of them are one of 3 children. All of them are 2-income households, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chiming in to say we have a happy family of three by choice. I also feel isolated about that decision sometimes.

We know TONS of families of three! My DD's preschool class is 10 kids - at least half of them are one of 3 children. All of them are 2-income households, too.

? Comprehension problem ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you!

We are selfish and we know it, but we wanted to share our life with someone. We very much planned for DD, and we very much enjoy sharing our life with her. She’s our buddy and we love the freedom we have with one.

We are never outnumbered, one parent can always have a break (super nice on vacation and on weekends), speaking of travel: three to a row! It works for us and we are very pleased.

How are you selfish for having one kid?

I don’t know but as a parent of one it’s a message I get and I’m always just like, huh?? This idea def needs to be explained to me

I mean, I'm a one kid parent too and I get it also. I also agree it's ridiculous. Is it selfish to want to balance being a parent with doing other things?

Example: Tonight our 2 year old was a living demon. I swear to god she was possessed. However, we got her to bed at 7:30 and now DH and I are eating popcorn and watching Masterchef. We get to have a break after a long week of work and a child in demon phase. I guess some people think it's selfish to want this?

Also, PP is right that the best thing you can do for the Earth is to not contribute to overpopulation by having 1 kid rather than 2 or more.

Mom of two here -- one issue I have with parents of singles is how darn defensive you get of something that is a total non-issue - it comes off as being smug and know-it-all. Frankly, I really don't care how many kids you have, you do do. But please, you don't need to rub it in my face that you have so much free time, life is so much easier for you, you're just SO THRILLED that you got your life back and don't ever have to deal with dirty diapers again. It's really annoying.

This! We have 3 - elementary, preschool, infant. The oldest has lots of only child friends. I could not care less whether they wanted 5 kids or the one was actually an oops. Moms of multiples are not obsessing about why you have one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you!

We are selfish and we know it, but we wanted to share our life with someone. We very much planned for DD, and we very much enjoy sharing our life with her. She’s our buddy and we love the freedom we have with one.

We are never outnumbered, one parent can always have a break (super nice on vacation and on weekends), speaking of travel: three to a row! It works for us and we are very pleased.

How are you selfish for having one kid?

I don’t know but as a parent of one it’s a message I get and I’m always just like, huh?? This idea def needs to be explained to me

I mean, I'm a one kid parent too and I get it also. I also agree it's ridiculous. Is it selfish to want to balance being a parent with doing other things?

Example: Tonight our 2 year old was a living demon. I swear to god she was possessed. However, we got her to bed at 7:30 and now DH and I are eating popcorn and watching Masterchef. We get to have a break after a long week of work and a child in demon phase. I guess some people think it's selfish to want this?

Also, PP is right that the best thing you can do for the Earth is to not contribute to overpopulation by having 1 kid rather than 2 or more.

Mom of two here -- one issue I have with parents of singles is how darn defensive you get of something that is a total non-issue - it comes off as being smug and know-it-all. Frankly, I really don't care how many kids you have, you do do. But please, you don't need to rub it in my face that you have so much free time, life is so much easier for you, you're just SO THRILLED that you got your life back and don't ever have to deal with dirty diapers again. It's really annoying.

This! We have 3 - elementary, preschool, infant. The oldest has lots of only child friends. I could not care less whether they wanted 5 kids or the one was actually an oops. Moms of multiples are not obsessing about why you have one.

We know. You're way too busy to have any thoughts besides what you're making for dinner tonight and how to get Larlo to soccer practice and Larla to dance class during Larlito's nap time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chiming in to say we have a happy family of three by choice. I also feel isolated about that decision sometimes.

By whom? I mean only your own feelings would cause the isolated emotion, nobody else can make you feel that way.

[Anonymous]

OP, how old is your child and are you otherwise keeping busy with work/activities with friends etc.? I only have one child and only wanted one, but can't say that I felt isolated or judged. I work a ton, and also volunteer a ton, so can't say I had a lot of down time to ponder the issue beyond making the choice.

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of one and done families out there. Just keep looking. Family size is a big topic of discussion in the toddler/preschool years. But once your kid hits six or seven, it rarely comes up. People are usually done having babies and everyone just moves on. My only is almost seventeen and it's been just fine.

[Anonymous]

You’re not alone. We are 1 and done and love the decision. It is the best!

[Anonymous]

I have one and we are a family of 2. It is what i always dreamed and i got it.

[Anonymous]

“I wanted 8 kids and I have 8 kids. I feel very alone in this.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/07/best-way-reduce-your-carbon-footprint-one-government-isn-t-telling-you-about

Recycling and using public transit are all fine and good if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, but to truly make a difference you should have fewer children. That’s the conclusion of a new study in which researchers looked at 39 peer-reviewed papers, government reports, and web-based programs that assess how an individual’s lifestyle choices might shrink their personal share of emissions.

Many commonly promoted options, such as washing clothes in cold water or swapping incandescent bulbs for light-emitting diodes, have only a moderate impact (see chart, below), the team reports today in Environmental Research Letters. But four lifestyle choices had a major impact: Become a vegetarian, forego air travel, ditch your car, and—most significantly—have fewer children.

Check out the graph. You are great OP!

x1000 Thank you OP I wish families would get an environment credit for not having more kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/07/best-way-reduce-your-carbon-footprint-one-government-isn-t-telling-you-about

Recycling and using public transit are all fine and good if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, but to truly make a difference you should have fewer children. That’s the conclusion of a new study in which researchers looked at 39 peer-reviewed papers, government reports, and web-based programs that assess how an individual’s lifestyle choices might shrink their personal share of emissions.

Many commonly promoted options, such as washing clothes in cold water or swapping incandescent bulbs for light-emitting diodes, have only a moderate impact (see chart, below), the team reports today in Environmental Research Letters. But four lifestyle choices had a major impact: Become a vegetarian, forego air travel, ditch your car, and—most significantly—have fewer children.

Check out the graph. You are great OP!

x1000 Thank you OP I wish families would get an environment credit for not having more kids!

Sure, and then can we send you the bill for all the old people's healthcare and our future dwindling GDP because we have a shrinking, aging population?